Saying Goodbye and Hello

We said goodbye to Fred and Ethel last week.  It was tough!  They brought us a lot of smiles and worries while they were here.  

On a happy note, we said hello to two new babies!  Both are doing well and their mamas are doing a great job caring for them.  Rosie has the honor of being the first to give birth: Billy is a bull.  

Our weather has been a mess.  We went from 80 degree days to 40 degrees in a matter of minutes!  There was no slowing down for fall; we zipped right into winter!  The same thing happened earlier in the year when we went from winter directly into summer.  The good news is we are getting some rain, tho we are still in the drought.  At least things are wet enough so we're not so worried about fires. 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!!!!

Into The Pantry

 Monday night we received notices on our phones that we were under a tornado warning.  It was about 9:00.  We grabbed the dogs, a couple chairs, the flashlight, and closed the door to the pantry (our storm shelter).  Thankfully the tornado pooped out west of us.  This is the third tornado that's been in our area since spring!  NO one was hurt with this storm but lots of trees down and roof damage.  Although we got a only a little over half an inch of rain, we are thankful for every bit of it.  We are expecting more storms tonight and tomorrow.  Our drought continues, so any rain we get, we're thankful for.  

With the cooler temperatures, we're seeing lots and lots of deer.  Bow season has started and regular hunting begins Nov 1st.  As much as I love the deer, we could use some harvesting to keep the population healthy.

Surprisingly the post oak trees have produced acorns this year.  This is the first time since we bought the place that they've produced.  They are rascals to grow but I'd like to have some success.  We lost quite a few trees from drought and construction.

Beginning to collect stuff for the holiday baking and meals.  Peg also plans to run up to Dallas to pick up items we just can't get here.  I suppose we could go to Austin to find what we are missing, but Dallas is "known" territory and there is no anxiety finding anything we need (we won't get lost).  

More News From Brownie and The Twins

As I said in my last post, Brownie and the twins, Fred and Ethel, were reunited briefly so everyone could receive routine treatment by the Vet.  Of course Brownie and the twins loved having the time together.  There was a lot of communication between the twins and their mama at feeding times and when one or the other were separated.  All of that was very touching and sweet.  Unfortunately, there were some not so good behaviors going on.  Yep, Brownie started letting the twins nurse again.  Even though it had been 30+ days since we started their weening, the twins started again.  Now the question is, were they getting any milk from Brownie?  I don't now, but over course of the 2-3 days everyone was together, there were many sightings of the twins nursing or trying to nurse.

Once the Vet visit was over, we separated mamas from babies again.  For the next couple of days, Brownie, Fred and Ethel called and cried for each other.  It was like we were starting the weening process all over again!  I am always touched by the amount of affection shown by each little cow family.  However, Brownie's little group seems to be the closest probably because of the amount of effort Brownie made so Fred and Ethel would survive. 

Fall

Finally we are experiencing some real lasting relief from the summer's heat!  Morning temperatures are in the low sixties and afternoons are in the high 80s to low 90s.  The humidity is low also which makes being outside pleasant.

The Vet comes Saturday morning to give everyone their "pour-on" treatment.  The heifers will get their bangs vaccinations and the babies, from May, will get their baby shots.  We have everyone, except the bull, up in the pasture by the house to facilitate the Vet doings.  This morning I was watching Brownie, who had Fred and Ethel last spring, enjoy some time together.  She was licking them and "pressing the flesh."  (Fred and Ethel were separated from her back in August to get weened.)  So she was enjoying time with both and they were happy to be with her.  BUT what is funny is she looked at me and started mooing and mooing as if to say, "thank you for letting us be together and aren't they the cutest?"  I am still so impressed with her mothering skills!

Have all the grandkids here this weekend.  I think they'll have a great time riding around and playing outside as the weather will be tolerable.  

The hummers are still passing through, tho I only see one or two per day.  They drop in for a quick drink, then move on...  I have also seen a flock of ducks fly by.  Hope to see the sandhill cranes soon, as they are my favorites.  I'm surprised the scissor-tailed flycatchers are still around.  Hopefully they'll move on soon. 

We are hoping for more rain and there is some worry about grass fires.  

Update On All Things At The Ranch

 Still no photos...

The really big news here is we've gotten some rain!!!!  In the last two days, we've had about three inches of the wonderful stuff.  We also received about an inch a week or so ago.  So the grass is starting to green up again, the tank has filled up about eight inches, and the temperatures have moderated to 85-95 degrees.  The dust has settled and mud is every where.  BUT we'll take it!!!

We will start feeding the mamas in the evenings again in anticipation of birthing babies which may begin in early October.  This change in feeding times will no doubt cause some confusion.  They'll catch on and there will be NO no shows at feeding time.

The second set of twins has been moved into the pasture by the house to start their weening process.  Both Fred and Ethel have been very vocal about being separated from their mom, Brownie.  Brownie has been front and center reassuring them along the fence line.  I have to say her mothering skills have been fantastic raising these two calves.  

The Latest News

Sorry I have not resolved my camera software issues so until I do, there will be no pictures...

Took six steers and Tippy to the sale barn Friday.  Basically the steers did okay, but Tippy, an open heifer, sold like she was going into the food chain.  I am hopeful someone just seized an opportunity and she will go to a ranch and be a mama.  

The drought continues.  No rain in a couple months and the afternoon temps have been above 100 for over 40+ days.  The water level on the tank/pond continues to go down.  It didn't dry up during the 2011 drought, so we are hoping not to run out of water this year.  The pundits are saying it'll be October before the weather improves.  We are still praying and dancing for a hurricane!  

The swallows have left so we can reclaim our back porch.  I miss not being able so sit out there, but during nesting it's impossible---the mess is terrible.  

We bought 30 bales of corn stalk silage because we didn't get a second hay cutting.  Also, we are already feeding everyone bales which typically we don't start until the end of September.  Hope we have enough to get us through...

With the water situation becoming questionable, the bale feeding ramping up, and the wildfire danger increasing, we have cancelled our vacation plans.  We need to be here if there is a problem.  I am okay with the change as this is a priority.  

 

The Weening Has Begun

The babies born in December and January have been separated from their mamas.  We endured a couple days of almost constant crying from both mamas and babies to only a few mournful bellows when one or the other sees each other.  I know I've said this before, but it is amazing to see the growth in independence in very short order on the part of the babies.  I know that's one of the goals, but it's neat to see it.  Of course I had some pictures to document this occasion, but the software for my camera has changed yet again.  I don't do technological changes very well, so I'm unsure when I'll have those pictures.

I do have this picture of a dead painted bunting, one of my favorite birds.  I think it hit the window and died.  They are beautiful even in death...

This summer seems to be shaping up into a very hot and dry one.  We are doing our rain dances and also praying for Mother Nature to unleash a strategic, yet rainy hurricane on central Texas.  Otherwise, it could get tough for everyone.